Latvijas Banka issues a 2 euro commemorative coin

On Tuesday, 17 September, Latvijas Banka is issuing a 2 euro commemorative coin "The Rising Sun" dedicated to the history of the Coat of Arms of Latvia. At the same time, by this coin we shall also pay tribute to Ansis Cīrulis (1883–1942) artistic contribution that has been included in the Latvian Cultural Canon.

The motif of a rising sun was very popular at the time of the foundation of the Latvian state. The rising sun symbolised the new country. With the help of artist Ivars Drulle, the sun motif created by artist Ansis Cīrulis and emerging as one of the basic elements of the Coat of Arms of Latvia has reborn into the commemorative coin "The Rising Sun".

In 1915, this motif was first featured on the badges of the Latvian Riflemen Battalion and on the  flag of the 1st Daugavgrīva Latvian Riflemen Battalion. It was also part of the design proposal for the symbol of an autonomous Latvia, created by artist Ansis Cīrulis in 1917 (the land and a rising sun with broken sunbeams). Later on this motif emerged as one of the basic elements of the Coat of Arms of Latvia.

The national side of the commemorative coins issued by Latvijas Banka features the inscription "LATVIJA", and the edge of the coin, like all other 2 euro circulation coins of the Republic of Latvia, features the inscription "DIEVS * SVĒTĪ * LATVIJU *". The new 2 euro coin was struck by Koninklijke Nederlandse Munt (the Netherlands).

The graphic design and plaster model of the national side of the new commemorative coin has been created by artist Ivars Drulle, while the common side of the coin bearing the nominal value (artist Luc Luycx) is the same as that of other 2 euro circulation coins, including material and size.

Each year, every euro area country is entitled to issue two 2 euro circulation coins of special design or commemorative coins as well as one more commemorative coin within a joint programme of several euro area countries provided that such a programme is organised.

Latvijas Banka continues the tradition of minting circulation coins of special design in Latvia. Euro commemorative coins are legal tender in the Republic of Latvia and other euro area countries.

The new commemorative coins will be circulated in the same way as any other circulation money, reaching commercial and other enterprises as well as the general public through banks. The coins will be available for exchange starting from 8.30 a.m.

On 17 September at the Cashier's Offices of Latvijas Banka in Riga and Liepāja. The mintage of the coin is 0.3 million pcs. Experience of Latvijas Banka shows that this quantity is sufficient to allow interested parties to exchange the coin over a period of at least several weeks. The total mintage of the coin in BU quality in a souvenir packing is 7 000 pcs. The price of the coin at the Cashier's Offices of Latvijas Banka will be 7.90 euro.

Numismatic products will be available for purchase online via Latvijas Banka's collector coin and other numismatic product site at e-monetas.lv, offering a wide range of collector coins and other numismatic products of Latvijas Banka. The site e-monetas.lv will also offer numismatic products to legal persons in Latvia. Coins for exchange, including in rolls, will be available only at the Cashier's Offices of Latvijas Banka.